You joined USC fairly recently—talk about your background and what brought you here?

I’m a lifelong Texan—I was born, raised, and educated in Texas. I was an eighth-grade English teacher before becoming a school librarian at two elementary schools in the Austin area. I earned all my degrees, including my Ph.D. in Information Studies, from the University of Texas at Austin.

After finishing my doctorate, I spent nearly a decade at Texas Woman’s University and then three and a half years at the University of North Texas. I’d known people in the School of Information Science at USC for years and was always impressed with the school’s strong reputation. I interviewed for this position in November 2023, and from the moment I arrived, it just felt right. The energy, the people—everything clicked.

What do you love most about your role here at USC, and how do you feel your work makes a difference?

I teach future school librarians, and that’s incredibly rewarding. People don’t always realize this, but school librarians are teachers too and they work in the biggest classroom in the school. They’re not book pushers or shushers. They teach literacy in all its forms: digital, information, visual, news literacy… it’s so much more than just handing out books.

The impact is wide-reaching. Every future librarian I teach will go on to work with hundreds, maybe thousands of students over their careers. So in a way, I’m getting to help shape the literacy and learning experiences of children across the country. It’s deeply meaningful work.

What inspires you to support USC through your donations?

I give back because I feel like USC has invested in me. I feel heard, valued, and supported here and not just as an employee but as a person. Giving back feels like the natural thing to do. I donate to Cocky’s Reading Express and the Augusta Baker Chair in the College of Information and Communications.

Cocky’s Reading Express is a phenomenal literacy outreach initiative. Faculty, staff, and students travel around South Carolina, delivering engaging programming and giving away books—20,000 this year alone, for their 20th anniversary! As a former school librarian, I believe every child should have access to high-quality books that they actually want to read. The folks at Cocky’s Reading Express are experts and they know how to pick books that nourish minds and spark joy in reading.

The Augusta Baker Chair is another cause close to my heart. Augusta Baker was the first Black woman in the U.S. to earn a degree in library science. She was a renowned children’s librarian and storyteller, and she spent her retirement years here in South Carolina. Supporting that endowment honors her legacy and supports Dr. Nicole Cooke, who now holds the chair.

What do you wish more people knew about giving to USC as an employee?

I know that any amount helps. Even if you can only give $10 or $20, it adds up. If you’re unsure where to give, just listen to your heart. Choose something that speaks to you, or support an area you think might not get as much funding. That’s how I approached it.

USC gives us so much. If we’re in a position to give even a little back, it can make a real difference.

I’m incredibly grateful. I’ve walked across this campus and teared up—more than once. It’s beautiful, but more than that, I just feel so lucky to be here. I have never worked in such a supportive, positive environment.

You’re very passionate about your field. Can you talk about your research?

My research focuses on school librarianship, particularly evidence-based practice and computational thinking. I’ve also worked on self-censorship, health information literacy, and data literacy—all within the context of school or public youth librarianship.

One especially impactful experience was being selected for the ALA/Google Libraries Ready to Code initiative in 2017. I was one of six faculty members nationwide chosen to redesign our courses to better integrate coding and computational thinking. That experience led to international collaborations including presenting in Greece and serving as keynote speaker for Kenya’s first school librarian conference in 2023.

Outside of work, what brings you joy or helps you recharge?

I’m a runner although my first attempt at a marathon didn’t quite go as planned! I trained for the Irish Life Dublin Marathon last fall, but I ended up with an overuse injury and couldn’t run. I’ve just gotten back into running over the last few weeks and feeling grateful just to be moving again.

I also love to travel and my partner lives in Dublin, so I have plenty of airline miles. I had a big garden in Texas. I grew everything from okra to tomatoes to herbs, and I’m known for my pickled eggs and peppers.

Are you a USC employee who wants to share why you give back? Email WattsAC@mailbox.sc.edu